EXERCISE 9.1
Social Responsibility
Focus on Something Bigger Than Yourself
Purpose
To emotionally connect with a big topic that matters to all humans and connect that awareness to the value of appreciating who we are as people and to being successful at work.
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15 minutes in advance; 25 to 45 minutes in session
Show an inspirational YouTube video clip or movie clip on a topic bigger than what the individuals work on daily. Each person writes emotions he or she felt when watching the video, then all participants discuss what it means to focus on bigger topics and how that can help them be better employees and people.
Outcomes
- Expand awareness of the value of caring about something bigger than oneself
- Connect the value of that awareness to being more effective employees and more of the persons they want to be
Audience
- Intact teams
- Unaffiliated group
- Individual working with a coach
Facilitator Competencies 
Moderate
Materials
- Paper and pens
- Capability to play YouTube or movie clip and the link to the clip or the video
Time Matrix
| Activity | Estimated Time |
| Prior to Exercise: Select YouTube or movie clip | 15 minutes (could take longer) |
| Show the clip; participants write emotions | 10–15 minutes |
| Discuss | 15–30 minutes |
| Total Time | 15 minutes in advance; 25 to 45 minutes in session |
Instructions
1. Prior to using the exercise, select a YouTube or movie clip about a big project designed to help accomplish significant social change that everyone can relate to. Be sure to select something that will engage your coachee, team, or group emotionally. You can search YouTube and find videos on topics relevant for your clients, such as Thank You from Habitat for Humanity, which is focused on everyone having a simple and warm home; the Golden Rule, with a demonstration of the value of treating one another well; or Lemonade Day, which emphasizes financial literacy and entrepreneurial awareness for children. Be sure you have the equipment and audio capacity to show the video. If you are using a movie clip, be sure to comply with relevant laws. The clip should be about three minutes long.
2. Show the video clip prior to having any discussion. Then give everyone paper and pens and ask them to write three to five emotions they felt while watching the video clip. If people get stuck, show it again; that will deepen their experience and their awareness of their own emotions.
3. Guide a discussion on what it means to focus on something bigger than yourself because it’s a social topic or project that benefits members of society who are in some way disadvantaged. Whether the area of concern, such as adequate housing, is something people work on at work or simply care about as human beings, noticing what they care about and why helps give their lives purpose. Invite discussion on:
- The value of caring about something bigger than oneself
- How taking time to experience and express a bigger focus at work is relevant to being productive team members and employees
- How it feels to be altruistic and to express caring about others
- Other topics the group wants to discuss
Ask whether they would like to make a commitment to paying attention to big topics regularly and make plans to continue the process if that is a goal.
4. (Optional) Stretch goal: Facilitate a process in which the group takes on a project, such as painting houses for the elderly, for a day. Follow the activity up with a discussion on how doing this work supports their engagement as employees and as members of their own community. Be sure to include emotional awareness by discussing how participants feel and why.